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'Green' lawn and garden care
 When
you care for your lawn and garden this summer, you could be harming
the environment.
Many fertilizers, pesticides, herbicides and fungicides contain
potentially dangerous chemicals and toxins. These substances can
seep into the groundwater or run off into rivers, lakes, streams,
and reservoirs, contaminating local drinking water sources.
"By using more environmentally friendly products and techniques,
you can grow a beautiful lawn and garden - and protect your drinking
water," said Raymond Raposa, executive director of the New
England Water Works Association, the region's largest organization
of water works professionals:
• Use less fertilizer and lawn and garden chemicals.
• Select environmentally safe lawn and garden products, or
the least toxic option, whenever possible.
• Read labels carefully and follow manufacturer's instructions
exactly when using lawn and garden products.
• Apply only the amount of fertilizer your plants require.
• Avoid using more than the recommended amount of pesticide.
• Build a compost pile for leaves and grass clippings; use
compost to add organic nutrients to your soil.
• Use mulch to control weeds and select disease-resistant
plants to reduce the need for pesticides and herbicides.
• Avoid mixing or using pesticides near a drinking water well.
• Contact your local water utility to find out if your home
is located near a water supply or a recharge area for a water supply.
• Ask your lawn and garden supplier for help in selecting
environmentally safe products or disease-resistant plants.
• Remove grass and weeds from cracks in concrete areas manually,
rather than pouring weed killer or gasoline on these areas.
For more information on environmentally friendly gardening or other
ways you can protect your drinking water sources, contact your local
water utility or the New England Water Works Association at 508-893-7979
or visit its Web site at www.newwa.org.
http://www2.townonline.com/bolton/opinion/view.bg?articleid=533353
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